Ministry of Rural Development
Shri Giriraj Singh launches SAMARTH campaign to promote digital transactions at Gram Panchayat Level
New India is emerging globally number 1 in digital economy where SHG Didis are becoming ‘LakhpatiDidis’ and ‘Super LakhpatiDidis’under visionary leadership of Shri Narendra Modi: Shri Giriraj Singh
Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri Giriraj Singh launched the ‘Campaign on Promoting Digital Transactions in 50000 Gram Panchayats' under the AmritMahotsav in Lucknow today. The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India is running a “Campaign on Promoting Digital Transactions in 50000 Gram Panchayats” which started from 1st February 2023 and will continue till 15 August 2023 under the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav. The key thrust of the campaign is to promote Digital Transactions in rural areas, particularly among women.
Launching the campaign, Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India lauded SHG’s NPA coming down from 9.58 % in 2013 percent to below 2% now under the inspirational leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi and urged banks to recognize the outstanding credit repayment performance of SHGs and facilitate higher loans for them. Acknowledging the contribution of BC Sakhis in digital transactions, where India is emerging as the Global leader under PM Modi’s visionary initiatives, Minister added that India is setting global examples in women empowerment too.
Addressing the audience, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath highlighted that with the digital transformation brought about by BC Sakhis in UP alone to the tune of 5 Crore 57 lakh transactions, they have not only ensured last mile doorstep banking across villages, but also helped banks save costs on low volume transactions. CM also lauded BC Sakhis who helped rural masses encash over Rs 75,000 Crore of Government DBT. CM added that in the digital Gram Sachivalays being created by Govt. of UP in villages, each will be having provision of offering services of Bank Sakhis too.
Congratulating the BC Sakhis for showcasing their ‘Samarthya’, Minister of State for Rural Development, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Govt. of India, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that the women of India are all-rounder who not only manage the kitchen but have also taken banks to the doorsteps of underserved citizen in remote corners of the country.
Recognising the contribution of BC Sakhis, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of UP, Shri K P Maurya stated that with increased earning, BC Sakhis have earned an honorable place not only within their homes but in the society too and this transformation is accelerating empowerment of women in villages of India.
The event was joined by Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel, Govt. of India, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste in online mode. Smt. Vijay Laxmi Gautam, Minister of State for Rural Development, Govt. of UP also graced the event.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Secretary Rural Development Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh briefed about the #SAMARTH campaign and the milestones which are set as well as being achieved under this by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural Livelihoods Mission  under the Ministry of Rural Development.
The event was also attended by Agriculture Production Commissioner, Govt. of UP, Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary Rural Livelihoods, Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Charanjit Singh, Director, Rural Livelihoods, Minister of Rural Development, Shri Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of UP Shri Himanshu Kumar, State Mission Director-UPSRLM, Smt. C Indumathi and other senior officials from Government of India and Government of Uttar Pradesh. Senior Bankers and other stakeholders too joined the event.
The event witnessed unveiling of a compendium of 75 Inspirational Tales of BC Sakhis along with live testimonies of transformations in the lives of BC Sakhis who narrated before the august gathering their success stories. On this occasion, Biometric PoS machines and Certificate of On-boarding were distributed to newly selected BC Sakhis.
Around 1000 BC Sakhis participated in the event at Lucknow with over 8000 BC Sakhis participating virtually. State Rural Livelihood Missions  and other stakeholders from all over India joined the event through webcast. The event was also live streamed on social media.